Autor: Ronald S. Lauder, Predsednik Svetskog jevrejskog kongresa
Pandemija COVID-19 stvorila je globalnu krizu bez presedana. Stotine hiljada ljudi je umrlo, milioni su oboleli, a milijarde ljudi su prinuđene da ostanu u svojim domovima. Zdravstveni i privredni sistemi su nategnuti i preopterećeni, a mnoge nacije su suočene sa iskušenjima sa kakvim se nisu susretale od 1945. godine.
Već nedeljama, pandemija ugrožava našu civilizaciju. Čini se da se život zaustavio u svom koloseku. Čitavo čovečanstvo se našlo u borbi sa zajedničkom pretnjom životu kakav nam je poznat.
Čak i dok proleće donosi znake nade, čovečanstvo se suočava sa ogromnim izazovom. Mada se vlade širom sveta pripremaju za ublažavanje ograničenja i život počinje postepeno, pažljivo i polako da se normalizuje, očigledno je da je koronavirus promenio svakog od nas, stvarajući novu istorijsku stvarnost.
Jevrejski narod se ponovo našao na prvoj liniji fronta u borbi protiv svetske pošasti. Njujork je postao posebno velika žrtva pandemije, a neke od njegovih jevrejskih zajednica su izuzetno teško pogođene.
London je takođe teško pogođen, a u nekim jevrejskim zajednicama u tom gradu broj zaraženih je posebno visok. Isto je i u drugim velikim evropskim gradovima, među kojima su najviše pogođeni Pariz, Rim, Amsterdam, Antverpen i Moskva. Od Borough Parka do Golders Green-a, od Williamsburg-a do Stamford Hill-a, jevrejske zajednice trpe gubitke, paniku, teškoće i bol.
Međutim, te iste zajednice pokazuju izuzetnu odvažnost i zajedništvo. Njihov čas patnje budi najbolje u njima. U vreme kada se čini da se mrak spušta na svet, jevrejske zajednice pale sveće predanosti, odlučnosti i ljubavi.
Sada moramo podići oči i pogledati ka budućnosti. Dok pandemija dostiže vrhunac i počinje da opada - sa posledičnim razaranjem koje svi jasno mogu da vide – mi moramo shvatiti njene implikacije na blisku i daleku budućnost jevrejskog naroda.
U narednim mesecima, jevrejski svet će morati da se suoči sa istim izazovom sa kojim se suočavaju sve nacije: kako da sačuvamo svoj život i blagostanje dok obnavljamo poslovne i privredne aktivnosti. Da bismo pronašli pravu životnu ravnotežu u senci koronavirusa, moramo pokazati opreznost, domišljatost, samodisciplinu i kreativnost.
Istovremeno, moraćemo da pronađemo nove načine življenja u zajednici i vaspitanja naše dece. Socijalno distanciranje na koje smo se svi obavezali trebalo bi da postane sredstvo izgradnje zajednice i društvenog povezivanja. Moramo osigurati da jevrejski život ne bude oslabljen, već osnažen.
Drugi izazov je solidarnost. Kao i svaka porodica, proširena porodica jevrejskog naroda na iskušenju je u doba krize.
S JEDNE STRANE, ogroman spoljni pritisak pojačava unutrašnje tenzije, često pogoršavajući podele koje mogu preći u bratsku svađu. S druge strane, danas je više nego ikad jasno koliko smo zavisni jedni od drugih. A još jasnije je da moramo prevazići ono što nas deli, ponovo otkriti ono što nas spaja, i iznad svega, i da moramo pružiti podršku jedni drugima.
Virus ne pravi razliku između ultra-ortodoksnih i reformskih Jevreja. Ekonomska implozija podjednako boli i liberale i konzervativce. A imperativ da negujemo snažnu, ujedinjenu jevrejsku zajednicu raste eksponencijalno kada se suočavamo sa opasnostima koje nas okružuju. Kucnuo je čas da pokažemo jedinstvo i sklad, za preporod jevrejske solidarnosti.
Treći izazov je antisemitizam. U poslednjih nekoliko godina, svedoci smo novog izbijanja jedne od najstarijih i najmrskijih pošasti koje je svet ikada poznavao: mržnje prema Jevrejima. Sada se situacija još više pogoršava.
Danas postoje oni koji krive Jevreje za širenje koronavirusa, a biće i onih koji će optužiti Jevreje za teške ekonomske poremećaje koji će uslediti. Kao i u prošlosti, fatalna biološka epidemija rađa oštru bujicu antisemitizma, ugrožavajući živote Jevreja.
Na ovom frontu apsolutno nema prostora za kompromise. Moramo se suprotstaviti onima koji bi da nas unište. Moramo zaštititi svakog Jevreja i svaku jevrejsku zajednicu koja bude napadnuta. Stoga moramo primeniti jedini lek koji može iskoreniti virus antisemitizma: snagu, snagu i još više snage. Mi se možemo odupreti ovom povampirenju mržnje koja preti da nas zahvati samo tako što ćemo stajati ujedinjeni i odlučni.
Četvrti izazov je država Izrael. Tokom poslednjih nekoliko meseci Izrael se na izvanredan način suprostavio pandemiji korona virusa. Identifikovao je pretnju ranije od većine drugih zemalja, usvojio stroge mere i ojačao svoj zdravstveni sistem (za šta je dobio međunarodne pohvale).
Izraelci su još jednom dokazali da su snažni i otporni, sposobni da se suoče sa krizom kao jedan narod. Istovremeno, pandemija je stvorila određenu napetost između jevrejske države i Jevreja u dijaspori. Mnogi su se osećali frustrirano jer im je u trenutku kada su za tim osećali potrebu, bilo zabranjeno da putuju u državu koju vide kao svoj drugi dom. Drugi su smatrali da je Izrael mogao da učini više kako bi pomogao zajednicama pogođenim krizom. Jaz između borbe protiv širenja virusa u jevrejskom Tel Avivu i predaje pred virusom u jevrejskom Njujorku (jevrejskom Londonu i jevrejskom Antverpenu) se produbio.
Da bi se suočio sa dramatičnim izazovima 2020. godine, jevrejski svet se mora iznova pripremiti i organizovati.
Prva hitna potreba je ambiciozna inicijativa za dopremanje izraelske i druge medicinske pomoći jevrejskim zajednicama opustošenim korona virusom. Druga je globalni pristup u borbi protiv antisemitizma gde god da promoli svoju ružnu glavu.
Potrebne su i koordinirane mere kako bi jevrejske zajednice koje su izbegle udar najgoreg talasa pandemije mogle pomoći onima koji pate od bolesti i devastacije. I poslednje, ali ne i najmanje bitno, potrebno je intenzivno delovati u svakoj pojedinačnoj zajednici, tako da oni među nama koji su imali više sreće budu uz one prema kojima je sudbina bila nemilosrdna.
Pre svega, moramo obnoviti kredo „jedan za sve i svi za jednoga“. Moramo ponovo da prigrlimo svoj vekovni etos uzajamne odgovornosti i ljubavi prema Izraelu.
U svetu posle koronavirusa, globalizacija će početi da vene, a nacionalizam da buja. Stoga moramo delovati sada, negujući jevrejski duh prosvetljene, velikodušne, humanističke i demokratske nacije. I moramo se zakleti - kao ujedinjena proširena porodica - da ćemo se suprostaviti svemu što nam predstoji hrabro i odlučno.
The Jewish imperative of the coronavirus crisis
By Ronald S. Lauder, World Jewish Congress President
The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented global crisis. Hundreds of thousands have died, millions have been sickened, and billions have been confined to their homes. Healthcare and economic systems have been stretched and strained, and many nations are facing a test the likes of which they have not encountered since 1945.
For many weeks now, the pandemic has disrupted our civilization. Life seems to have stopped in its tracks. The whole of humanity has found itself contending with a common threat to life as we know it.
Even as spring brings hopeful signs, humankind is facing a gargantuan challenge. As governments around the world set about easing restrictions and life begins to gradually, carefully and haltingly return, it is evident that the coronavirus has changed every one of us, creating a new historic reality.
The Jewish people have once again found themselves at the forefront of the struggle against a worldwide calamity. New York City has been an outsized victim of the pandemic, and some of its Jewish communities have been especially hard hit.
London, too, has suffered badly, and in some of its Jewish communities the number of cases has been especially high. The same is true in other major European cities, chief among them Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Antwerp and Moscow. From Borough Park to Golders Green, from Williamsburg to Stamford Hill, Jewish communities are experiencing loss, panic, hardship and pain.
However, these same communities are demonstrating exceptional fortitude and cohesion. Their difficult hour is also their finest. At a time when darkness seems to be descending upon the world, they are lighting the candles of dedication, determination and love.
Now we must raise our eyes and look toward tomorrow. As the pandemic peaks and begins to abate - with the resulting devastation plain for all to see - we must understand its implications for the near and far future of the Jewish people.
In the coming months, the Jewish world will have to confront the same challenge facing all nations: how to safeguard our lives and wellbeing as we renew business and economic activity. In order to find the right balance of life in the shadow of coronavirus, we must demonstrate prudence, ingenuity, self-discipline and creativity.
At the same time, we will have to find new ways to conduct our communal life and educate our children. The social-distancing we have all been compelled to undertake should become a tool of community-building and social-bonding. We must ensure that Jewish life isn’t enfeebled, but empowered.
The second challenge is solidarity. Like every family, the extended family of the Jewish people is tested in a time of crisis.
ON ONE HAND, enormous external pressure exacerbates internal tensions, often sharpening divisions that may descend into brotherly strife. On the other hand, today more than ever, it is clear just how dependent we are on one another. It is doubly clear that we must overcome that which divides us, rediscover what unites us, and above all, support one another.
The virus does not differentiate between ultra-Orthodox and Reform Jews. The economic implosion hurts liberals and conservatives alike. And the imperative to nurture a strong, unified Jewish community grows exponentially in the face of the dangers surrounding us. Now is the hour for unity and harmony, for a renaissance of Jewish solidarity.
The third challenge is antisemitism. In the last few years, we have witnessed a new outbreak of one of the oldest and most odious plagues the world has ever known: hatred of the Jews. Now the situation is deteriorating even further.
Today there are those who blame the Jews for the spread of coronavirus, and there will be those who will blame the Jews for the coming severe economic dislocation. As in the past, a fatal biological epidemic is spawning a vicious torrent of antisemitism, endangering the lives of Jews.
On this front, there is absolutely no room for compromise. We must stand as one against those who would destroy us. We must protect every Jew and every Jewish community that comes under attack. Therefore we must deploy the only remedy that can eradicate the virus of antisemitism: strength, strength and more strength. Only by standing united and resolute can we hold back the resurgence of hatred that threatens to engulf us.
The fourth challenge is the State of Israel. Over the last few months, Israel has confronted the coronavirus pandemic in a remarkable manner. It identified the threat earlier than most, enacted stringent measures and bolstered its healthcare system (which has garnered international praise).
Israelis have once again proven that they are strong and resilient, able to confront the crisis as one nation. At the same time, the pandemic has created a certain tension between the Jewish state and Jews in the Diaspora. Many felt frustrated because during their hour of need they were prohibited from traveling to the state they see as their second home. Others felt that Israel could have done more to help crisis-stricken communities. The gap between stanching the spread of the virus in Jewish Tel Aviv and succumbing to the virus in Jewish New York (Jewish London and Jewish Antwerp) has rankled.
In order to contend with the dramatic challenges of 2020, the Jewish world must prepare and organize anew.
The first urgent need is an ambitious initiative to bring Israeli and other medical aid to Jewish communities ravaged by coronavirus. The second is a global approach to waging war against antisemitism wherever it rears its ugly head.
Also required are coordinated measures so that Jewish communities which have escaped the worst of the pandemic can help those suffering illness and devastation. Last but not least, intensive action is needed in every individual community so the fortunate among us stand by those to whom fate has been so cruel.
Above all, we must renew the credo of “one for all and all for one.” We must re-embrace our age-old ethos of mutual responsibility and love of Israel.
In the post-coronavirus world, globalization will wane, and nationalism will rise. Thus, we must act now, fostering the Jewish spirit of enlightened, generous, humanistic and democratic nationhood. And we must vow - as a unified extended family - to confront all that still lies ahead with courage and determination.